besides 1 of 2

preposition

bi-ˈsīdz How to pronounce besides (audio)
Definition of besidesnext
1
as in beside
in addition to besides me, there are five people working on this project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in except
not including the book is 800 pages long besides the bibliography

Synonyms & Similar Words

besides

2 of 2

adverb

as in then
in addition to what has been said "Besides," Dan exclaimed, "Who are you to tell me what to do?"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of besides
Preposition
But his death had many contributing factors besides being unable to breath while face down on the ground. — Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati.com, 2 June 2020 The airline’s crew members and ground services personnel are undergoing detailed health check-ups at regular intervals, besides wearing protective gear at all times. — Niharika Sharma, Quartz India, 31 May 2020
Adverb
Been there, done that — and, besides, the club has fallen too far behind PSV. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 4 June 2026 Still, GLP-1s may not be appropriate for everyone with knee pain, and besides, these drugs can cause side effects and be difficult to access, says Karri. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for besides
Recent Examples of Synonyms for besides
  1. beside
  2. except
  3. then
  4. but
  5. either
  6. also
  7. more
Preposition
  • Animated characters appear beside a child’s plate and prepare each course right in front of them before they’re served the actual dish.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • McConnell’s office also released a photo of the Kentucky senator smiling beside his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
    — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of beside
Preposition
  • At Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, face masks are required in public areas, except when dining or swimming, capacity of public areas will be limited, and housekeeping and public area attendants will increase their cleaning procedures.
    — Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2020
  • The city advised all residents to stay inside except those going to and from work and anyone seeking or giving emergency care, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti's official Twitter account.
    — NBC News, NBC News, 1 June 2020
Definition of except
Adverb
  • Most, though not all, virus experts think the best evidence indicates the virus jumped from bats to other animals, and then to humans at a Wuhan market.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Paul Peschisolido became Fulham’s first £1million signing, then Chris Coleman arrived for £2m — fees that had been unimaginable in the third tier.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of then
Preposition
  • Normally, big job losses trigger massive searches for full-time jobs, but this crisis has been anything but normal.
    — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 1 June 2020
  • Despite the pleas for calm, the nation seemed anything but as a fitful week drew to a close.
    — Robert Klemko, Washington Post, 30 May 2020
Definition of but
Adverb
  • Curtis hasn’t really come close to reaching his potential as a character either.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
  • Chris Wood and Tyler Bindon only collected a single point with New Zealand, while Angus Gunn could not help Scotland get beyond the group stage either.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of either
Adverb
  • Peyton also sits on the Legislature’s Anti-Crime, DEI, Justice & Law Enforcement and Land Use committees, as well as several ad hoc committees.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
  • The team also found that residents in the Sardinian Blue Zone had higher levels of curiosity and receptiveness to new ideas in general, and were more adept at understanding and sharing their emotions.
    — Refractor, Refractor, 27 July 2026
Definition of also
Adverb
  • Travelling between matches becomes much more difficult when the tournament is spread across multiple countries.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • That case focused mostly on the details of the knife attack itself; the federal one delves more into questions of motive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of more

Browse Nearby Words

beside oneself
besides
beside the point
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Besides.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/besides. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on besides

Nglish: Translation of besides for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of spindrift

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All